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Rain forces NASCAR to set Cup field by points

MARTINSVILLE, Va. -- Due to lack of practice, Martinsville lineup set by points with Edwards on pole

Persistent rain and clouds forced NASCAR officials to cancel Cup qualifying Saturday morning at Martinsville Speedway in favor of getting in two practices before the scheduled Truck Series Kroger 200.

After more than a half-inch of rain pelted the area overnight, crews were busy Saturday morning attempting to dry the track. But when the scheduled 8:30 a.m. ET practice time came, the track was still too wet, forcing NASCAR officials to revise their plans.

Now officials are hoping the track will be ready between 9:15 and 9:30 a.m. ET for a short Cup practice that will end at 10 a.m. Truck qualifying will follow at 10:40 a.m., with a final practice for the Cup cars running from noon until 1:25 p.m. All of this is weather permitting.

That means Cup qualifying has been canceled and the starting lineup for Sunday's Tums Fast Relief 500 will be set per the NASCAR rule book, with Carl Edwards leading the field to the green flag.

Saturday's forecast calls for a 100 percent chance of rain in the morning, with gradually clearing skies. The high will only get to 50 and the winds will pick up once the cold front clears the area.

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